Laser-beam aiming device

ABSTRACT

The laser generator (20) is mounted in a sleeve (13) in such a way that its barrel (22) is held by three support elements (25,25&#39;,30) two of which consist of a sliding part (25,25&#39;) having a bearing surface (24,24&#39;) extending in an oblique plane with respect to the axial plane which is perpendicular to the radial direction of the support element in question, while the oblique bearing surface (24,24&#39;) of each sliding part coacts with a rib (23) projecting from the outer surface of the barrel (22) of said laser generator (20). The side of the sliding part (25,25&#39;), which is opposite the above mentioned bearing surface having a thread (26,26&#39;), engages a thread formed on the inner surface of a ring (28,29) so that the rotation of the ring (28,29) moves the sliding part (25,25&#39;) along the axis of the sleeve (13) in a direction parallel thereto, while the above mentioned oblique bearing surface (24,24&#39;) moves the axis of the laser generator barrel (22) in a direction parallel to the radial direction in question.

The present invention relates, in general terms, to a laser-beam aimingappliance intended to be fastened to a firearm in order to make iteasier to aim it at a target. It is concerned particularly with animproved mode of construction and especially a device for axialpositioning of the laser generator.

A laser-beam aiming or sighting appliance takes the form of an elongatehousing, in which are accommodated a laser generator, anelectrical-energy source for supplying the laser generator, and anaxial-positioning device for adjusting the axial position of the lasergenerator on the inside of the housing, in order to orient the axis ofthe laser beam in such a way that, at a predetermined distance from thefirearm to which the aiming appliance is fastened, the axis of the laserbeam coincides with the axis of the barrel of the firearm.

In the known laser-beam aiming or sighting appliances, the axialpositioning of the laser generator is carried out by means of adjustingscrews. An alternative embodiment is described in U.S. Pat. No.2,715,275 relating to a sighting telescope. The axial alignment of thisappliance is obtained by means of two radial plungers arranged in twoplanes perpendicular to one another, the first plunger beingdisplaceable longitudinally in order to ensure adjustment in elevation,and the second plunger being displaceable longitudinally in order toensure adjustment in azimuth or drift. The displacement of each plungeris controlled by means of a ring. With such a device, however, theadjustment in elevation and in azimuth is limited to a displacementcorresponding to one revolution of the corresponding ring, that is tosay to 360°.

Now it has been found that, although a laser-beam aiming or sightingappliance makes sighting easier, especially when the gunner is workingunder poor lighting conditions, the laser beam reproduces the leasttremor of the firearm. Moreover, an adjustment of the laser beam ispracticable only for a precisely determined distance because the laserbeam has a perfectly straight path, whereas the projectile has a curvedpath. The adjustment of the beam as a function of the distance of thetarget is therefore an especially difficult problem which calls for avery high fineness of adjustment.

The object of the present invention is to afford a solution to thisproblem by providing an aiming or sighting appliance equipped with anarrangement capable of ensuring an adjustment of the direction of thelaser beam with a fineness and accuracy higher than those which theknown devices allow.

There is provided, according to the invention, a laser-beam aiming orsighting appliance, in which the laser generator is mounted on theinside of a sleeve, in such a way that the gun of the laser generator isheld by three bearing members arranged in angular positions spaced fromone another, a first bearing member being arranged in a radial positionlocated in a vertical axial plane, whilst a second bearing member isarranged in a radial position located in a horizontal axial plane.

Each of the first and second bearing members consists of a slide havinga bearing face which extends in a plane oblique relative to the axialplane perpendicular to the radial direction of the bearing member underconsideration, the oblique face of each slide co-operating with a ribprovided on the outer surface of the gun of the laser generator. Theface of the slide which is opposite the bearing face having a thread,meshes in a thread formed in the inner surface of a ring, in such a waythat the rotation of the ring causes the displacement of the slideparallel to the axis of the sleeve, whilst the abovementioned obliquebearing face displaces the axis of the gun of the laser generatorparallel to the radial direction under consideration.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the slides passes through an orificeformed in the sleeve, and each slide is coupled to a separate ring whichextends coaxially relative to the sleeve. The rib which co-operates withthe oblique face of each slide extends on the periphery of a bush whichsurrounds the gun of the laser generator.

Advantageously, the laser generator is mounted on a cardanic suspensionfastened on the inside of the sleeve. The rib provided on the bush whichdelimits the gun of the laser generator is maintained constantly incontact with the oblique bearing faces of the slides by means of aspring which extends radially between the inner surface of the sleeveand the bush.

By means of the invention, the adjustment in elevation and in drift canbe carried out continuously with very high fineness, for example with avariation according to a travel corresponding to a rotation of twocomplete revolutions of each ring.

According to another aspect of the invention, the laser generator ismounted in a housing having an electrical-energy source, theelectrical-energy source being connected electrically to a first contactmember, whilst the electronic control circuit of the laser generator isconnected electrically to a second contact member, said first and secondcontact members being connected electrically to one another by means ofan electrically conductive ball when this ball is brought into contactwith said first and second contact members by a pusher which isdisplaced when a trigger member is actuated.

Preferably, the aiming appliance is mounted removably on an adaptorintended for fastening the appliance rigidly to the body of a firearm,which adaptor comprises a shackle intended for partially girdling thebody of a firearm, one end of said shackle carrying a pivot, about whicha clamping lever is articulated. One end of the clamping lever has anose formed so as to be capable of co-operating with the surface of alocking cylinder when said clamping lever is in the clamping position,the locking cylinder being mounted elastically on the shackle in such away that the abovementioned nose exerts a retraction pressure on thelocking cylinder.

In an exemplary embodiment, the locking cylinder is mounted on at leastone spring in a receptacle formed in the shackle. The locking cylinderis hollow and extends around a retaining axle fastened in the cylinderreceptacle.

By means of the elastically mounted locking cylinder, the applianceaccording to the invention can be fastened to the body of the firearmwith a clamping force which is distributed over the entire length of theadaptor, thereby ensuring a perfectly rigid fastening on the firearm.This rigid fastening, by means of which the aiming appliance ideallybecomes integral with the firearm, contributes to obtaining a highlyaccurate aiming at a target.

The appliance according to the invention not only has the greatadvantage of allowing a very fine adjustment of the alignment with atarget and consequently a highly accurate sighting of the target, butalso has the advantage of being easy to assemble, thereby making itsproduction easier.

Other particular and advantageous aspects of the

Other particular and advantageous aspects of the invention will emergefrom a reading of the following description which will be made with theaid of the accompanying drawings which illustrate an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 1 is a rear view of the aiming appliance according to theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the appliance illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section along the line III--III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a section along the line IV--IV of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a section along the line V--V of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a section on an enlarged scale through the contactor mountedin the appliance according to the invention.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show three positions of the locking mechanism provided onthe fastening adaptor of the aiming appliance illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a laser-beam aiming appliance 10 fastened removablyto a firearm by means of an adaptor 40. The line designated by thereference symbol 100 represents the exemplary contour of the body of afirearm. The adaptor 40 is provided so that, when it is fastened to asmall arm or shoulder arm, the aiming appliance 10 is in an angularposition offset laterally relative to the vertical axial plane of thefirearm.

The laser-beam aiming appliance 10 can be seen particularly in partialsection in FIG. 2. The appliance comprises a housing 11, in which areaccommodated a laser generator 20, an energy source 31 for supplying thelaser generator, and a trigger mechanism for making the electricalconnection between the energy source and the laser generator in order toproduce a laser beam, that is to say a beam of coherent light.

The laser generator 20 comprises electronic control circuit 21 having alaser diode, the laser diode being known per se. The elements of thelaser generator are enclosed in a bush 12 forming a gun 22 forprojecting the laser beam produced by the laser diode when the latter isexcited. The bush 12 is fastened on the inside of a sleeve 13 whichextends from the housing 11. The free end of the sleeve 13 is closed bymeans of a head 14 pierced with an aperture, shut off by a glass plate15 arranged opposite the orifice of the gun 22 of the laser generator,in order to allow the laser beam to pass outwards. The rear end of thehousing 11 is closed by means of a removable cover 17 allowing access tothe electrical-energy source 31, for example cells. The cover 17 isadvantageously attached to the housing 11 by means of a small chain 17',to prevent the cover from being lost.

Inside the sleeve 13, the laser generator 20 is mounted on a cardanicsuspension 18 fastened to a sleeve 13, and its axial positioning isensured by a mechanism serving for adjusting the alignment in elevationand in azimuth of the axis of the laser beam in relation to the barrelof the firearm on which the appliance is mounted, so as to adjust thedistance at which the axis of the laser beam coincides with the axis ofthe barrel of the firearm. The innovation resides not so much in thefunction of this mechanism, which is necessary and well known, as in thespecial mechanical arrangement provided according to the invention forperforming this alignment function, with specific advantages in terms ofthe accuracy and fineness of the adjustment.

As shown in the cross-section of FIG. 3, the outer surface of the gun 22of the laser generator is held by three bearing members arranged inangular positions spaced from one another. A first bearing member 25 isarranged in a radial position located in a vertical axial plane. Asecond bearing member 25' is arranged in a radial position located in ahorizontal axial plane. A third bearing member 30 is arranged in such aradial position that the axis of this bearing member preferably bisectsthe angle formed by the radial planes of the first two bearing members.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, the outer surface of the bush 12 whichdelimits the gun 22 of the laser generator has an annular rib 23. Thisrib co-operates with a bearing face 24 which belongs to a slide 25extending longitudinally along the generatrix of the bush 12. The slide25 passes radially through an orifice 16 cut out from the sleeve 13. Thebearing face 24 extends longitudinally in a plane oblique relative tothe horizontal axial plane of the sleeve. The opposite longitudinal faceof the slide 25 has a thread 26 which meshes in a complementary threadformed on the inner surface of a ring 28. When this ring is rotated, itsinternal thread drives the slide 25 which thus slides parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the sleeve 13, whilst the rib 23, which remains incontact with the oblique face 24, follows the inclination of thisbearing face 24, and from that moment the longitudinal axis of the gun22 is displaced in a vertical plane. The inclination of the axis of thegun of the laser generator varies continuously and uniformly inproportion as the thread of the ring 28 travels along an angular pathwhich can greatly exceed 260°. In an exemplary embodiment, theadjustment in elevation varies over a travel corresponding to a rotationof two complete revolutions of the ring, thereby ensuring a highfineness of adjustment which no other known means of mechanicaladjustment can achieve.

The rib 23 co-operates in a similar way with a bearing face 24, whichbelongs to the slide 25' (FIG. 5). The bearing face 24' extendslongitudinally in a plane oblique relative to the vertical axial planeof the sleeve. The opposite longitudinal face of the slide 25' has athread 26' which meshes in a complementary thread formed on the innersurface of the ring 29. When the latter is rotated, its internal threaddrives the slide 25' which thus slides parallel to the longitudinal axisof the sleeve 13, whilst the rib 23 follows the inclination of thebearing face 24'. The longitudinal axis of the gun 22 is therebydisplaced in a horizontal plane. The inclination of the axis of the gunof the laser generator varies from that moment continuously anduniformly in proportion as the thread of the ring 29 travels along anangular path of more than 360°. For example, the adjustment in drift canvary over a travel corresponding to a rotation of two completerevolutions of the ring, thereby ensuring a high fineness of adjustmentwhich no other known means of mechanical adjustment can achieve.

The third bearing member consists of a spring 30 (FIG. 3) which exerts aradial pressure on the bush 12, which delimits the gun 22 of the lasergenerator, in order to maintain the rib 23 constantly in contact withthe oblique bearing faces of the two slides 25 and 25'. The spring 30 isfastened at its ends in receptacles provided in the outer surface of thebush 12 and in or on the inner surface of the sleeve 13. It goes withoutsaying that the bush 12 could have a separate rib for co-operating witheach bearing slide.

By means of the axial-positioning device according to the invention, thesetting of the aiming at a target can be adjusted with a much greaterfineness than with the prior devices, thus ensuring a much more accuratesighting. Moreover, this device is assembled on an aiming or sightingappliance easily and quickly.

The laser generator 20 is triggered by means of a contactor mounted inthe housing 11 (FIG. 4). This contactor comprises an electricallyconductive ball 34 mounted in a receptacle displaceable under the actionof a pusher which slides in an orifice made in the base 19 of thehousing 11. When the pusher is displaced upwards (this occurring underthe action of a trigger member provided on the fastening adaptor 40which will be described later), the ball 34 is lifted and comes intocontact with two contact pieces 32 and 33. The contact piece 32 isconnected electrically to the electrical-energy source 31; the contactpiece 33 is connected electrically to the electronic control circuit 21of the laser generator. When the ball 34 has come into contact with thecontact pieces 32 and 33, an electrical connection is made between theenergy source 31 and the control circuit 21 of the laser generator 20which then produces a laser beam.

As mentioned above, the aiming appliance 10 is mounted on an adaptormaking it possible to fasten the appliance removably to any firearm. Thefastening adaptor 40 is shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The adaptor 40 comprises a shackle 41 having a bearing surface 42 forbearing on the body of a firearm. In the exemplary embodimentillustrated in FIG. 1, one lateral end of the shackle 41 has a rib 43intended for co-operating by clamping with the lateral surface of thefirearm. The opposite lateral end of the shackle 41 carries a horizontalaxle 44, about which pivots a lug 45, one end of which has a heel 46intended for co-operating by clamping with the lateral surface of thefirearm. The other end of the lug 45 carries a horizontal axle 47, aboutwhich pivots a clamping lever 48 shaped so as to clamp the lug 45against the body 100 of the firearm when it is in the clamping position.In other embodiments, depending on the profile of the body of thefirearm used, the shackle 41 can bear on a surface extending on theperiphery of the firearm.

FIG. 7 shows a partial section through the shackle 41 when the applianceis seen from the front, that is to say facing the aperture of the laserprojector. The clamping lever 48 has a nose 49 shaped and arranged so asto co-operate with the surface of a locking cylinder 50 mountedelastically in a receptacle 51 formed in the shackle 41. The lockingcylinder 50 is a hollow cylinder, for example made of steel, whichextends around a retaining axle 53 fastened in a receptacle 51. In anexemplary embodiment, the elastic mounting of the cylinder 50 is ensuredby means of springs 52, for example four parallel springs distributedover the length of the cylinder and pushing the latter towards theorifice of the receptacle 51.

When the clamping lever 48 is in the clamping position (FIG. 7), thenose 49 co-operates with the locking cylinder 50 and exerts on thelatter a pressure counter to the action of the spring 52 which thenmaintains the cylinder 50 against the lower flank of the nose 49. Thelatter is retained above the horizontal diametral plane of the cylinder50, and this distributes the clamping force over the entire length ofthe shackle 41, thereby ensuring a rigid fastening on the firearm, theaiming appliance being integral with the firearm. On the other hand, theclamping lever 48 could not pivot accidentally and free the movement ofthe lug 45 because the nose 49 cannot overcome the pushing force exertedby the spring 52 when the clamping lever 48 is not stressed by a torquedeliberately applied by the operator.

In contrast, because of the elastically mounted cylinder 50, a securelocking takes place gently. Intentional release likewise takes placegently. FIGS. 8 and 9 show the locking mechanism in two states in whichthe clamping lever is disengaged. In FIG. 8, the nose 49 of the clampinglever 48 is in position against the locking cylinder 50 just afterrelease or just before locking. The cylinder 50 is then stressed to theright under the push of the relaxed spring 52; the cylinder 50 isretained by the retaining axle 53. In this state, the lug 45 stillmaintains its heel 46 in contact with the body of the firearm. In FIG.9, the clamping lever 48 is shown in the completely disengaged position.The nose 49 no longer co-operates with the locking cylinder 50 and thelug 45 is likewise disengaged: the appliance can thus be separated froma firearm or be placed on and fastened to a firearm.

The shackle 41 also carries an axle 37, about which is mounted a triggermember. This takes the form of a lever 38 intended to be actuated by thegunner's hand. This lever will be called a spoon. The spoon 38terminates in a lug 36 arranged so as to co-operate with the end of thepusher 35 which controls the contactor 34 of the laser generator, asdescribed above (FIG. 4). A pawl 39 makes it possible to block the spoon38 in order to prevent an accidental triggering of the laser generator.

The embodiment of the invention described in the foregoing is an examplegiven by way of illustration, and the invention is in no way limited tothis example. Any modification, any alternative version and anyequivalent arrangement must be considered as included within the scopeof the invention.

I claim:
 1. A laser-beam aiming appliance, comprising a sleeve (13)which contains a laser generator (20) having a gun (22) held by threebearing members arranged in angular positions spaced from one another, afirst bearing member being arranged in a radial position located in avertical axial plane, whilst a second bearing member is arranged in aradial position located in a horizontal axial plane, wherein each of thefirst and second bearing members consists of a slide (25, 25') having abearing face (24, 24') which extends in a plane oblique relative to theaxial plane perpendicular to the radial direction of the bearing memberunder consideration, the oblique bearing face (24, 24') of each slideco-operating with a rib (23) projecting on the outer surface of the gun(22) of the laser generator (20), the face of the slide (25, 25') whichis opposite the abovementioned bearing face having a thread (26, 26')meshing in a thread formed in the inner surface of a ring (28, 29), insuch a way that the rotation of said ring (28, 29) causes thedisplacement of the slide (25, 25') parallel to the axis of the sleeve(13), whilst the abovementioned oblique bearing face (24, 24') displacesthe axis of the gun (22) of the laser generator parallel to the radialdirection under consideration.
 2. The appliance as claimed in claim 1,wherein each of the slides (25, 25') passes through an orifice (16, 16')formed in the sleeve (13), each slide (25, 25') being coupled to aseparate ring (28, 29) which extends coaxially relative to the sleeve(13).
 3. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rib (23) whichco-operates with the oblique face (24,24') of each slide (25,25')extends on the periphery of a bus (12) which surrounds the gun (22) ofthe laser generator (20).
 4. The appliance as claimed in claim 3,wherein the third bearing member consists of a pressure spring (30)extending radially between the inner surface of the sleeve (13) and theabovementioned bush (12).
 5. The appliance as claimed in claim 1,wherein the laser generator (20) is mounted on a cardan suspension (18)fastened on the inside of the sleeve (13).
 6. The appliance as claimedin claim 1, wherein the laser generator (20) comprises electroniccontrol circuit (21), the laser generator (20) being mounted in ahousing (11) having an electrical-energy source (31), the electricalenergy source being connected electrically to a first contact member(32), and the electronic control circuit (21) of the laser generator(20) being connected electrically to a second contact member (33), saidfirst and second contact members (32,33) being connected electrically toone another by means of an electrically conductive ball (34) when thisball is brought into contact with said first and second contact members(32, 33) by a pusher (35) which is displaced when a trigger member (38)is actuated.
 7. The appliance as claimed in claim 1, defined in that itis mounted removeably on an adaptor (40) intended for fastening theappliance rigidly to the body (100) of a firearm.
 8. The appliance asclaimed in claim 7, wherein the adaptor (40) comprises a shackle (41)for partially girdling the body (100) of a firearm, one end of saidshackle (41) carrying a pivot (47), about which a clamping lever (48) isarticulated, one end of the clamping lever (48) having a nose (49)formed so as to cooperate with the surface of a locking cylinder (50)when said clamping lever is in the clamping position, the lockingcylinder (50) being mounted elastically on the shackle (41) in such away that the above-mentioned nose (49) exerts a retraction pressure onthe locking cylinder (50).
 9. The appliance as claimed in claim 8,wherein the locking cylinder (50) is mounted on at least one spring (52)in a receptacle (51) formed in the shackle (41).
 10. The appliance asclaimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein the locking cylinder (50) is hollow andextends around a retaining axle (53) fastened in the receptacle (51) ofthe cylinder (50).
 11. The appliance as claimed in claim 2, wherein therib (23) which co-operates with the oblique face (24,24') of each slide(25,25') extends on the periphery of a bush (12) which surrounds the gun(22) of the laser generator (20).
 12. The appliance as claimed in claim2, wherein the laser generator (20) is mounted on a cardan suspension(18) fastened on the inside of the sleeve (13).
 13. The appliance asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the laser generator (20) is mounted on acardan suspension (18) fastened on the inside of the sleeve (13). 14.The appliance as claimed in claim 4, wherein the laser generator (20) ismounted on a cardan suspension (18) fastened on the inside of the sleeve(13).
 15. The appliance as claimed in claim 2, wherein the lasergenerator (20) comprises electronic control circuit (21), the lasergenerator (20) being mounted in a housing (11) having anelectrical-energy source (31), the electrical energy source beingconnected electrically to a first contact member (32), and theelectronic control circuit (21) of the laser generator (20) beingconnected electrically to a second contact member (33), said first andsecond contact members (32,33) being connected electrically to oneanother by means of an electrically conductive ball (34) when this ballis brought into contact with said first and second contact members (32,33) by a pusher (35) which is displaced when a trigger member (38) isactuated.
 16. The appliance as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lasergenerator (20) comprises electronic control circuit (21), the lasergenerator (20) being mounted in a housing (11) having anelectrical-energy source (31), the electrical energy source beingconnected electrically to a first contact member (32), and theelectronic control circuit (21) of the laser generator (20) beingconnected electrically to a second contact member (33), said first andsecond contact members (32,33) being connected electrically to oneanother by means of an electrically conductive ball (34) when this ballis brought into contact with said first and second contact members (32,33) by a pusher (35) which is displaced when a trigger member (38) isactuated.
 17. The appliance as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lasergenerator (20) comprises electronic control circuit (21), the lasergenerator (20) being mounted in a housing (11) having anelectrical-energy source (31), the electrical energy source beingconnected electrically to a first contact member (32), and theelectronic control circuit (21) of the laser generator (20) beingconnected electrically to a second contact member (33), said first andsecond contact members (32,33) being connected electrically to oneanother by means of an electrically conductive ball (34) when this ballis brought into contact with said first and second contact members (32,33) by a pusher (35) which is displaced when a trigger member (38) isactuated.
 18. The appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein the lasergenerator (20) comprises electronic control circuit (21), the lasergenerator (20) being mounted in a housing (11) having anelectrical-energy source (31), the electrical energy source beingconnected electrically to a first contact member (32), and theelectronic control circuit (21) of the laser generator (20) beingconnected electrically to a second contact member (33), said first andsecond contact members (32,33) being connected electrically to oneanother by means of an electrically conductive ball (34) when this ballis brought into contact with said first and second contact members (32,33) by a pusher (35) which is displaced when a trigger member (38) isactuated.
 19. The appliance as claimed in claim 2, defined in that it ismounted removeably on an adaptor (40) intended for fastening theappliance rigidly to the body (100) of a firearm.
 20. The appliance asclaimed in claim 3, defined in that it is mounted removeably on anadaptor (40) intended for fastening the appliance rigidly to the body(100) of a firearm.
 21. The appliance as claimed in claim 4, defined inthat it is mounted removeably on an adaptor (40) intended for fasteningthe appliance rigidly to the body (100) of a firearm.
 22. The applianceas claimed in claim 5, defined in that it is mounted removeably on anadaptor (40) intended for fastening the appliance rigidly to the body(100) of a firearm.
 23. The appliance as claimed in claim 6, defined inthat it is mounted removeably on an adaptor (40) intended for fasteningthe appliance rigidly to the body (100) of a firearm.